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How to plan a Funeral
Engaging an End of Life Doula can help you to change the ending of life into something that is intimate, authentic and meaningful in a deeply enriching and healing way.
By normalising and talking about death and funerals, we become less fearful of the inevitable. People will become more comfortable to have open conversations about their end of life wishes, plans and life’s reflections. There is progress in changing community awareness and hopefully we can become more easeful about planning for death.
Planning is your opportunity to have a say in many things… it’s not just about having a Will to distribute your money and assets, or completing your Advance Care Directive, it is so much more personal. You matter, your preferences and end of life wishes matter!
By planning for end of life you are giving your loved ones the ultimate legacy, one that they will NEVER forget. You will be instrumental in helping to alleviate their suffering and support their bereavement, grief and healing process. What a precious gift it is to yourself in having peace of mind that all is taken care of, and to your significant others by being organised for the end of your life.
CREATE A SACRED SPACE
Bringing about change to help us say goodbye
Ceremonies and rituals mark a particular time or event and can help us celebrate the life of our loved one and enter our own personal grieving process.
What are your wishes?
Have you thought about things like...
- If you want your body to be cared for at home after death or taken to a funeral home? There is no legislation that states you cannot; die at home, have your body cared for at home after death (for up to 5 days in NSW). A death certificate is needed signed by a health professional, and a cooling plate or device would be necessary to prevent premature decomposition of the body.
- Do you want to have a funeral, a memorial, or a celebration such as a living wake before you die?
- If you want a funeral, will you want a closed or open coffin or casket? Or will you be cremated first and then have a ceremony?
- What would you like to wear? Is there a piece of jewellery or item of significance you want kept with you?
- Will your body be buried, or will you be cremated? There are options that you may not be aware of such as natural burial, water burial, or donating your body to science to name a few.
- Would you like your ashes made into legacy items such as an urn shaped as a vase, candle holder, or paperweight? Or incorporated into a piece of jewellery?
- Who would you like to involve in your funeral? Who will share some words, tributes or stories?
- Will you write your own life story or leave it to family to write your Eulogy?
- What do you want to be remembered for?
- What messages do you want to pass on to your loved ones? What are life’s most valuable lessons that you would like to share?
Know Our History
How can an End of Life Doula help?
Many people are unaware of the funeral choices available to them, and in many cases, this can lead to an overly expensive and impersonal experience. An End of Life Doula can help you to create a more authentic and intimate ceremony, as well as reduce costs without skimping on what is important.
Although not for everyone, an End of Life Doula can support your family and close friends to care for and prepare your body for funeral at home, in a medical setting such as in palliative or hospice care, or at a funeral home. This can be a deeply moving and intimate ritual which can help us to say goodbye.
As an End of Life Doula and Funeral Celebrant I offer my services to support my clients to plan for their own, or for their loved one’s funeral, memorial service, celebration of life or any other event such as a wake (living or after end of life) that is preferred. I offer individual, compassionate and tailored funeral planning, guiding and supporting you to create a sacred space which allows for the commemoration of your loved one’s life and supports the grieving process.
My service includes a funeral planning meeting before end of life with you, or after end of life with those close to client, liaising with your chosen Funeral Director to ensure everything is organised and taken care of, and a funeral service led by family or guided by myself as the Celebrant.